Pasture rotation: how to prevent overgrazing

Why pasture rotation matters so much

After grazing, grass needs an average of three to four weeks to regrow to an ideal height of 8 to 15 centimetres. If you leave horses on the same paddock for too long, the roots become exhausted and unwanted plants such as dock and dandelion get the chance to establish themselves. On top of that, parasite larvae accumulate in short, moist grass. By rotating paddocks you break that cycle: larvae that find no host usually die off within six weeks. The result is a healthier pasture and lower worm pressure — without having to reach straight for a wormer.

How much space do you need?

A rough guideline: allow a minimum of 0.4 to 0.5 hectares per horse for rotational grazing. If you have less space, you can divide the paddock into smaller blocks and rotate more frequently. Split your pasture into three to four equally sized sections. One section is grazed while the other two or three rest and recover. On a total of 1 hectare for two horses, for example, you could create four blocks of 2,500 m² each. The horses spend two weeks on one block, after which the other blocks have three full cycles to recover.

The basic rules of a rotation schedule

• Move to a new paddock as soon as the grass drops below 5 centimetres or is visibly poached.
• Allow each paddock to rest for at least 3 to 6 weeks — longer during dry summers and shorter during a wet spring.
• Mow resting paddocks back to 8 centimetres if the grass becomes too long and coarse — otherwise horses will avoid this 'old grass'.
• Remove droppings from the pasture surface at least twice a week to reduce parasite larvae.
• Keep a simple log of when you rotate: date in, date out, grass condition on return.

Grass management during dry and wet periods

Weather conditions strongly determine how quickly grass recovers. In a dry summer, grass grows more slowly; extend the rest period to 6 to 8 weeks and consider supplementary roughage. After a wet autumn, the soil is more vulnerable to poaching; bring horses in earlier or restrict grazing to dry periods. A practical rule of thumb: if you can see hoof prints in the ground after rain, the paddock is too wet to use. In the EquiSight horse profile you can link weather notes to your grazing log, so you can spot trends across multiple seasons.

The risks of overgrazing at a glance

• Increased intake of fructans from short, stressed grass — a well-known trigger for laminitis.
• Greater risk of worm infestation as larvae accumulate in a closely grazed sward.
• Erosion and mud formation in wet conditions, leading to hoof problems.
• Establishment of toxic plants such as ragwort, which horses normally avoid but will eat when choice is limited.
• Restoration costs: completely reseeding a destroyed pasture can easily run to €1,000 to €2,500 per hectare.

Getting started practically: first step

This season, start by fencing your pasture into at least two equal halves. Temporary electric fencing with portable posts is inexpensive and quick to put up. Place your horses first on the half with the least grass growth and save the other half for recovery. Use the calendar in EquiSight to set an automatic reminder after fourteen days so you rotate in good time. Record the grass length and the condition of the turf at every rotation. After just one season you will already have valuable data to fine-tune your rotation schedule to your own situation.

Check grass condition with a fixed routine

Walking around the pasture sounds simple, but do it with a purpose. Estimate the average grass length, look for bare patches larger than half a square metre, and check whether unwanted plants are increasing. Do this every week on the same day and record it in the horse profile. EquiCoach analyses your notes and sends an alert when patterns indicate persistent overgrazing. That way you act preventively rather than reactively — saving not only money, but also stress for your horses.